Well control and anchoring device



Nov. 11, 1958 M.'w|L.Horr

WELL CONTROL AND ANCHORING DEVICE Filed April 2o, 195s A #kl hll'klv ESS 4 0, a. 5 7 5 9J n( m w MW? 5M 2 2% a 2 f F A ToRNEY United States Patent() This inventionrelatesfto wellI-tools--andifmore particuvlarly to a locking meansfor--securing =we1ltools .'inipredetermined position in -a well pipe string.

One object ofthe invention istohprovidefa newfand improved locking meansforwell tools.

Another-objectl of the invention is fro-provide alocking means for=use -in `'well vstrirgshavingan upwardly ifacingshoulder anda vdownwardly facing shoulder, which locking means has a`'stoplrneans` engageable with theaupwardly jfacing-shoulder for limiting downward movement of the-tool in the well-string andihasresilientf stop means expansible into engagement with `the .downwardly facing -shoulder to ylock ithe fw'ell tool iagai'nst upward `movement i-n` the well string.

A furthery object-ofthe-inventionuisto provide afnew and improved docking means for fwell tools 1 having :a resilient stop means expansible, by Va longitudinally zrnovyable expander -member, `:in-to engagement with ta '.downwardly facingV stop shoulder of yafwellstringtoprevent upward vmovement of'fthe well .tool inthe'wellfstring.

A stillfurther object of theiinvention is to:provide, ina device of theltype described, sealing means: operable lselectively lforsealing the-flow course vthrough the well tool in either direction.

Still another1o'bject ofrthe inventionfis to providefa `wel1 -toolfhaving locking :means @of the character .de-

scribed which may be'readily released.fromrlockedsposivtionitor-'removal 'of the well=to0l from-the-wellstring.

Additional =obiects Aand advantages of the invention willreadily be apparent from:thefreadingloffthefollowing description vof devices constructed? in fac'cordancefw-ith the invention, and; reference Eto t-lief'accornpanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figures yl nand x2 are .1a-"view,partlyrinielevationand partly in section, 'ishowingzthe locking means in'.the,.posi tion `assumed' while 'the well: tool isbe'ingi lowered through a well' string,and showing thevwell tooLpositionedin-a f landing; nipple' inthe wellr'string.

Figure` 3 .iscaview, similar-:to -Figure f1, showingfthe lowerfportion lof thet wellt tool with the' various-.elements of the locking: means in the;positionsctheyfassurne.tolock the' well' to'ol inxplace .in the vlanding nipple @andvagainst movement in the well string,

Figure 4 is alhorizontal sectionaljrvicw takenfon the line 4 4 ofFigurev2, l

vFigure :5 is a horizontal sectional view taken-.on the line 5-5 of-v Figure 2; and

Figure'6 f is :a view,gL partly inelevation y-andpartly Y in section, of "a modified `formof the locking mea-ns shown inFigures lato 4, and i Figure 71is a'fragmentary'vview, partly irl-.elevation andlpartly in section, showingfa-'rnodiiieation ofthe-central control member. Y v

In the drawing, the numeral designates a-welltool having the"lockingmeans-ofthe invention; 4.The rwell tool has an elongate tubular body 11 threadedonithe upper end .of a .packer mandrel 112,- and-a packenassembly 13 kis disposed non the-,packer mandrel between thereu- .per tubular Vextensions 19 prongs 2'3 2,859,825 Hatented Nov. 11, 1958 ICC larged-lower end 14 of the tubular body and the upper annular shoulder-15 of an external flange 16 on the lower portion of the packer mandrel.

collet locking. member 18 is threaded in the lower end of the dependent valve sleeve. The Vpacker mandrel and the colletlocking member havereducedllower Aand upand 20, respectively, `which telescope into opposite ends of the dependent-valve4 sleeve l17. 4.The extensions haveta. plurality of radiallyspa'ced `lateral ports 21 and 22, `respectively,'spaced a:substan Vtial distance longitudinallyfrom the `ends of the extensions; and these portsprovide .communication between the bores .of the extensions vand the annular :space-beltweenthe extensions -an`d the interior wall of the depen- .dent valve sleeve, for a purpose which will, behereinafter more fully explained. e

T he Vcollet locking memberhas yaplurality -ofresilient each provided with an -outwardly extending boss.2`4=which is thusresiliently movable laterally. The

bosses are disposed to be expanded by anenlarged expander head 25 on the lower end of an-el-ongate control rodorxmernber having a lower'expander section 26,an

enlarged intermediate packingor valve sect-ion `Z7, and

1an-elongate upper operating section 28. The expander .head-25 on the lower end of the-lower expandersection ,126 :is provided -with a downwardly 'and .outwardly extending camming shoulder 29 which .is adaptedtovengage the .downwardly and outwardly extending cam shoulders I3i) at the lower inner endsv of the colletprongs, 'soithat upward movement of the expander head-relative to the4 collet locking member will cause the .colletprongs to flex outwardly into expanded position.

The collet bosses have upwardly and outwardlyextending beveled surfaces 31 ontheir lower outer ends which causevthe colletprongs to ex inwardlywhenrunning downwardly past obstructions. Thebosses -alsohave adownwardrly x and .outwardly extending locking surface Y.or shoulder 32 at their upper ends which-causeth'e .collet-prongs-toex 1inwardly when moving upwardly.pastobstructions It will be understood, of course, ythat when'the-expander head-is in the position shown in Figure 3, .the-collet lprongs are heldin expanded position andcannot. ex.in-

wardly.

The upper end portion of the lower lexpander section l26 of thecontrol rod is reducedfin diameter and-has-its upper end threaded into a bore in the lower-end 35 of kthe intermediate section 27 of such rod, so ,that the upwardlyfacing annular shoulder 33 formed .by =such reducedrportion is spaced from the'lower vend of such-,intermediate section whereby a lower packer-assembly.

vmay be disposed on the reduced `portion.of.the.1ower expander section and confined thereonfbetweenthe vannular shoulder 33 and the lower endS.. of .the intermediate section. -The lower end, portion ofL the t upper operating section 28 of the control rod'is similarly reduced :and threaded intoa bore in the upperY end 38 oftheintermediate-packing section 27, so that `the-downwardly acing'annular shoulder 36 formed on the operating section is spaced fromthe upperend of`suchintermediate section .whereby an upper packer assembly 37 mayfbe disposed-on such reduced portion lof the upper operating "sectionand confined thereon between the annularish'oul- Vder 36 and the upper end 38 of the intermediate section.

A'Cap orshing neck member `39 is threaded on the vfup'per end' of the upper operating section oflthe control rod, and is provided with'an external 'flange I40 Aatits upper endhaving an undercut annular shoulder 41 which `may be engagedby a'suitable running or retrieving tool `by means of which the elongate control `rod 'may be actuated in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter,`

set forth.

The tubular body 11 has an external flange 42 near its upper end which provides a downwardly facing s top shoulder 43 adapted to engage an upwardly facing stop shoulder 44 at the upper end of a landing, section or nipple 45 to limit downward movement of the well tool through the landing nipple. The tubular body 11 is also provided with an external annular flange 46 at its `upper end which may be engaged by a suitable running tool, on a flexible line, whereby the packer mandrel may be lowered into or removed from a tubing string of which the landing nipple 45 constitutes one section.

While the tool is being lowered into a tubing string, the control rod may be moved downwardly until the cap 40 rests on the upper end of the flange 46 so that the expander head 25 is disposed well below the collet locking member 18. The collet prongs are then free to Ilex inwardly as the shoulders 31 of the bosses encounter obstructions duringfdownward movement of the tool. During such movement, well fluids may flow exteriorly of the well tool through the annular space between such well tool and the bore wall of the well pipe string. Also, if desired, the control rod may be elevated to the position shown in Figures l and 2, and well fluids may then also flow upwardly through the cylindrical passage 47 between the lower expander section 26 of the control rod and the collet locking member 18, through the ports 22 of the collet extension 20, the passage 48 between the dependent valve sleeve 17 and the control rod, the ports 21 of the extension 19 of the packer mandrel, and the cylindrical passage 49 between the upper operative section 28 ofthe control rod and the packer mandrel and the tubular body. The fluids may also flow outwardly through the lateral ports 50 in the tubular body.

When the well tool is lowered into the landing nipple 45 forming al section of the well string, the stop shoulder 43 of the tubular body engages the shoulder 44 of the landing nipple, thus arresting the downward movement of the tool after the bosses 24 of the collet prongs have moved downwardly past an internal annular flange 51 at the lower end of the landing nipple, the prongs flexing inwardly during such passage.

The running tool is now disengaged from the flange 46 of the tubular body and engages under the flange 41 of the cap on the control rod so that upward jars may be delivered to the control rod to move it upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, wherein the expander head 25 is positioned between the collet prongs so that the bosses on such prongs are in expanded positions below the downwardly facing lock shoulder 52 on the ange 51 at the lower end of the landing nipple, and thus prevent upward movement of the well tool out of said landing nipple. An externally fluted stop ring 53 secured to the intermediate valve section 27 by a pin 54 limits the upward movement of the expander head relative to the collet locking member by abutting the lower end 55 of the packer mandrel extension 19.

, The packer assembly 37 is now positioned above the lateral ports 21 of the packer mandrel extension 19, so that well fluids are prevented from flowing upwardly through the packer mandrel since the packer assembly 37 seals between the upper operating section 28 of the control rod and the packer mandrel. Flow of well fluids between the packer mandrel and the landing nipple is prevented by the packer assembly 13 which seals between the packer mandrel and the landing nipple. It will be seen, therefore, that the control rod or member acts as a valve to shut off flow of fluids upwardly through the landing nipple when it is moved to the upper position shown in Figure 3. Well fluids may flow inwardly into the landing nipple above the packer mandrel through the lateral ports 56 thereof, and through the lateral ports 50 of the tubular body into the cylindrical passage 49 and thence upwardly to the surface.

If it is desired to circulate fluids downwardly through the well pipe or tubing string, the control rod may be lowered to position the lower packer assembly 34 below the ports 22 in the collet extension 20, so that the packer assembly seals the bore of the collet extension and fluids cannot flow downwardly therethrough. The packer assembly 13 closes off'ow exteriorly of the well tool.

Toequalize fluid pressures above and below the well tool, thepcontrol rod is moved to the intermediate position showninFigures l and 2, wherein the upper packer assembly 38 is'po'sitioned'below the ports 21 of the packer mandrel extension, and the lower packer assembly 34 is positioned above the ports 22 of the collet extension. In this position, fluids may flow through the ports and the cylindrical passage 48 to equalize pressures above and below the well tool.

Thus, the intermediate packing or valve section 27 of the control rod may be actuated to act as a valve to control flow in either direction through the well tool, or to permit flow therethrough if desired.

When it becomes desirable to remove the well tool from the well string, a suitable retrieving tool (not shown) is lowered into the wellstring on a flexible line, and is first used to deliver a downward blow to the cap 39 to move the control rod downwardly to equalize pressures above and below the well tool. Such downward movement of the control rod also moves the expander member 25 downwardly to free the collet prongs 23 so that they may flex inwardly in order that the bosses may pass the locking shoulder 52 of the nipple. The running tool then engages flange 46 of the tubular body 11 and the tool` is lifted through the well string, the shoulders 32 of the bosses camming the bosses inwardly upon encountering obstructions, such as the flange 51 of the nipple, during such upward movement.

It will now be seen that a locking means for well tools has been illustrated and described which has a stop shoulder 43 which engages an upwardly facing stop shoulder 44 of a well string to limit downward movement of the well tool in the well string, and which has a resilient locking means, the collet prongs 23 and bosses 24, which is expansible by an expander member 25 into engagement with the downwardly facing lock shoulder 52 of the well string to lock the well tool against upward movement in the well string. Moreover, it will be seen that the sealing or packer assemblies 34 and 37 provide for sealing off the flow course through the well tool in either direction when the control rod is moved upwardly or downwardly, or to permit flow when in an intermediate position.

It will also be apparent that the ring 53 forms a stop means which limits the movement of the expander member 25 relative to the collet prongs 23 so that the expander member cannot be moved above the collet bosses.

It will further be seen that the well tool may be lowered and the locking means expanded into locking position by means of a flexible line, and that the locking means may also be released from locked position and the well tool removed from the well string by means of the flexible line.

In Figure 6 is shown a modified form of the well tool, wherein the collet locking member 57 and the tubular packer body 58 are connected by a valve sleeve 59 threaded on the lower end of the tubular packer body. An upper packer assembly 60 is disposed in an internal annular recess formed by and between adjacent portions of the valve sleeve and the lower end of the tubular packer body, and is held against longitudinal movement by the lower end 61 of the tubular body and an' internal annular flange 62 of the valve sleeve. A similar lower packer assembly 63 is held in a recess 64 at the upper end of the collet locking member by a retaining ring 65 threaded in the lower end of the valve sleeve. The control rod or member 66 has an enlarged intermediate section 67 which, when the control rod is moved upwardly to locked position, ern'gag'esl the'upper packer assembly 60 and thus prevents Yupward ilow of fli'd Y through the tubular body. Similarly, the enlargel section 67 may also be 'moved downwardly to engage the lower packer assembly 63 and thus prevent downward now of liuid throughfthe valve sleeve when the controly rod 66 is in a '1owered `position. A lluted stop ring 68 Iis secured on the enlarged section 67 by a pin 69, and limits movement of the controll rod` in either direction relative'to the collet member 57' and the packer assemblies.

' The mode of operation of the well tool shown in Figure 6 is substantially the same as that of the well tool `previously described, except that downward movement of the well tool in the landing nipple is limited by the vengagement of a stop shoulder 70` on the collet locking member with the shoulder 71 ofthe internal flange 72 of the landing section` orfnipple 73, rather than by the engagement of a stop shoulder at the upper end of the well tool as in" the previously described form.

The resilient collet prongs 74 of the collet locking member 57 extend substantially below the stop shoulder 70 and are provided with bosses 75 which are thus resiliently movable laterally. The bosses are moved to engage the downwardly facing lock shoulder 76 lby the enlargement or expander member 77 on the lower end of the control Yrod or member 66 when said rod is moved upwardly.

- It will be `apparent that the mounting of the packer assemblies or rings 60 and 63 could be reversed .so that theypcould be disposed on thecentralportion of the control rod or member and be movable into engagement 'with proper sealing surfaces-providedin the tubular packer -body and collet locking member.

i. "'It will now-v be `apparent thatthe modified form of the well tool shown in Figure 6 also has a stop shoulder 7G-which engages an upwardly facing `stop shoulder 71 t'olimit' downward movement of the well tool through a -wellfstringy of which the landing nipple 73 constitutes a section, and that the collet bosses 75 are expanded by an expander member 77 to engage the 'downwardly facing lock shoulder 76 of the well string. It will also beapparent that this modified form-of the locking means also has a stop means or ring68 which' limits relative movement between the control rod 66 and thecolrlet locking 'member 57, as well as between the control rod and the packer assemblies 60 and 63, for the purposes of locking 'the well too-l in place in the landing nipple and of con- '.trolling flow through said well tool.

VA slightly modified form of the central control rod and valve sleeve assembly is shown in Figure 7, wherein the vinternal packing assemblies are omitted and a tubular sleeve 80 has its upper end threaded internally and connected to the lower: end of a packer body 81 similar to the packer body 58 of Figure 6L The lower end of the tubular sleeve is also internally screw threaded and iS 4threaded onto the upper end of a collet locking member 83 similar to the collet locking member 57 of Figure 6. The shoulder S4 formed by the. lower en'd of the packer body, 814 andthe shoulder .8S formed by the upper end V;of' the collet locking member provide spaced opposed stop -rnem'bers for engagement withy a iiuted stop flange 86 lprovided on the exterior o f 4an elongate Vcentral control rod yor member 87. to limit the longitudinal movement of said4 control rods. The control rod is otherwise cylindrical an'd similar to the control rod 66 of Figure 6, having an expander member at its lower end and a fishing necklmember at its upperend., .All other parts of the "well tool are similar to those already described.

In this modified form fluids may flow upwardly through the bore of the well tool, while the fluted stop ange provides means for limiting movement of the central control rod in eitherdirection, whereby the well tool may be positively locked inthe landing nipple during upward flow.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanaf-tory only, and changes in the details of the constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the` invention.k

What Irclairn and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; an expansiblerresilient locking means onsaid tubular member; an'd a control member in said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof to engage and hold said expansible resilient locking means in position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent'upward movement of said tool after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder.

2. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein: the control member and said tubular member provide a longitudinal flow course through said well tool.

3. A well tool for use in a well string having an nternal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubularrinember; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; an expansible resilient locking means on said tubular member; a control member` in said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof to engage and hold said expansible resilient locking means into position to be engageable with said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder; and stop means on said tubular member and control member co-acting for limiting upvward movement of said control member relative to said expansible resilient locking means'.

`4. A well tool for use in a well string having an intubular member; meanson said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said Well tool in said well string; an expansible resilient locking means on said tubular member; an elongate control member in said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof to engage and hold said expansible resilient locking means into position to be engageable with said downwardly facing shoulder after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool; and sealing means in said tubular member engageable with said tubular member and control member for preventing uid ow through said tubular memberl when said elongate control member is moved to position holding said expansible resilient locking means expanded.

5. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 4 wherein: said tubular member is providedV with external sealing means engageable with the well string for sealing between said tubular member and well string. y

.6. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein: second sealing means is provided in said tubular member at a position spaced longitudinally from the other sealing means in said tubular member, said second sealing means being disposedto sealingly engage both said tubular member and said control member when said control member is moved to its lowermost position spaced below its upper locking means expanding position, both sealing means being disposed to engage only one of said members when said control member is intermediate said upper and lowermost positions and means providing a llow passage through said tubular member exteriorly of said control member, said flow passage being Vopen when said control member is intermediate said wherein: second sealing means is provided in said tubular member at a position spaced from the other sealing means in said tubular member and disposed to sealingly engage both said tubular member and said control member when said control member is moved longitudinally to a position in said tubular member opposite the position in which said control member engages said expansible locking means, both sealing means in said tubular member being engageable with only one of said members when said control member is in a position intermediate said locking and opposite positions, there being a iiow passage through said well tool between said tubular member and said control member, said ow passage being open when said control member is in said intermediate position whereby uids may flow through said tool.

8. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engagingv said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; an expansible resilient locking means on said tubular member; a control member in said tubular member movable longitudinally thereof to engage and hold said expansible resilient locking means in position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder; stop -means on saidl tubular member and control member co-acting for limiting upward movement of said control member relative to said expansible resilient locking means; and sealing means in said tubular member enrgageable with said tubular member and control member for preventing fluid flow through said tubular member when said control member is moved to position holding said expansible resilient locking means expanded.

9. A well tool for usein a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; expansible resilient locking means extending downwardly from said tubular member; an elongate control member slidable longitudinally in said tubular member and having an expander member disposed below said locking means, said control member being movable longitudinally upwardly of said tubular member and locking means to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said locking means to expand said locking means into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder after downward movement of said tool has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder; and stop means on said tubular member and said control member co-acting for limiting upward movement of said expander member relative to said expansible locking means.

l0. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein: sealing means is disposed within the bore of said tubular member and surrounding said control member and is adapted to sealingly engage both said tubular member and said control member to prevent fluid flow through said tubular member when said control member is in its uppermost position holding said resilient locking means in locking position, said sealing means also being disposed to sealingly engage both said tubular member and said control member when said control member is in its lowermost out of engagement with said locking means, said sealing means being disposed to engage only one of said members when said control member is in a position intermediate said uppermost and lowermost positions, there being a flow passage through said well tool between said tubular member and said control member, said ow passage being open when said control member is in said intermediate position whereby uid may flow through said tool when said control member is in such intermediate position.

11. A well tool foruse in a well string having an internalupwardly facing .shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said lupwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; expansible resilient locking means extending downwardly from said tubular member; an elongate control member slidable longitudinally in said tubular member and having an expander member disposed below said expansible locking means, said control member being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and expansible locking means to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said locking means to expand said locking means into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder after downward movement of said to'ol has been arrested by said upwardly facing shoulder; and sealing means in said tubular member for engaging and sealing between said tubular member and said control member to prevent fluid ilow through said tubular member when said control member is moved upwardly `to position said expander member in upper expanding position.

12. A well tool of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein: said tubular member is provided with external sealing means engageable with the well string for sealing between said tubular member and well string.

13. A well tool of the character set forth in claim ll wherein: second sealing means is provided in said tubular member at a position spaced longitudinally from the other sealing means in said tubular member, said second sealing means being disposed to sealingly engage both said tubular member and said control member when said control member ismoved to its lowermost position spaced below its upper locking means expanding position, and means providing a ow passage through said tubular member exteriorly of said control member, said ow passage being open when said control member is intermediate said upper and lowermost positions.

14. A well to'ol for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; said tubular member having a plurality of dependent resilient locking prongs; and a control member slidable longitudinally in said tubular member and having an expander member disposed below said resilient locking prongs, said control member being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and prongs to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said prongs to expand said prongs into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent up- 'ward movement of said tool.

.tudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and prongs to bring said expander member into telescopingA relation with said prongs to expand said prongs into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool; and stop means on said tubular member, and said control member co-acting 'agees-,sas

for limiting upward movement of said expander member Vrelative to said resilient locking prongs.

'1`6. A well tool for use in a well string having an in- Vternal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; a collet locking member below and connected with said tubular member having outwardly expansible prongs with locking bosses at their lower ends; a control member extending through said tubular member and said collet locking member and having an expander member disposed below said locking bosses, said control member p being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and collet locking member to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said collet prongs to expand said bosses into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool.

17. A well tool for use in a well string having 'an internal upwardly facing shoulder'and .an internal downwardly facing shoulder, 'said` tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; a collet locking member below and connected with said tubular member having outwardly expansible prongs with locking bosses at their lower ends; a control member extending through said tubular member and said collet locking member having an expander member disposed below said locking bosses, said control member being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and collet locking member to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said collet prongs to expand said bosses into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upwardV movement of said tool; and stop means carried by said tubular member co-acting with said control member for limiting upward movement of said expander member relative to said collet prongs.

18. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; means on said tubular member for engaging said upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in said well string; a collet locking member below and connected with said tubular member having outwardly expansible prongs with locking bosses at their lower ends; a central control member extending through said tubular member and said collet locking member and having an expander member disposed below said locking bosses, said central control member being movable longitudinally upwardly relative to said tubular member and collet locking member to bring said expander member into telescoping relation with said collet prongs to expand said bosses into position to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to prevent upward movement of said tool; stop means carried by saidtubular member and co-acting with said control member for limiting upward movement of said expander member relative to said collet prongs; external sealing means on said outer tubular member engageable with the well string for sealing therebetween; and sealing means in said outer tubular member between said tubular member and said control member engageable with said members to prevent fluid ilow through said tubular member when said control member is in upper position.

l9. A well tool for use in a well string having an internal upwardly facing shoulder and an internal downwardly facing shoulder, said tool including: an outer tubular member; a collet locking member below and connected with said tubular member having outwardly expansible prongs with projecting locking bosses at their lower ends; a projecting stop means on said tubular member 'adjacent the upper ends 1of the collet prongsfor .engaging said'upwardly facing shoulder to limit downward movement of said well tool in saidV well string; a veontrolmember extending through said tubular member vandcollettlocking member and having an enlarged expander member disposed below said locking bosses, said fc'ontrol member being movable longitudinally upwardly -witl'i respect vto said collet locking member to move said expander member between said locking bosses to expand* said bosses into positionto engage said downwardly facing shoulder to lock the well tool against upward displacelment from said well string.

` 20. A well tool for use in a well string having means pansible locking means is positioned to engage said downwardly facing shoulder to limit upward movement of said tool in said' well string; and means on said tool `engageable with said upwardly facing shoulder for limiting downward movement of said tool in said well string.

to position said tool in said well string.

2l. A well device including: an elongate body having an axial passage; said body having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper end thereof providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage an upwardly facing stop shoulder within the bore of a well string through which said body is lowered to limit the downward movement of said body, said body having a resilient expansible locking means on its lower end, said locking means having an axial passage aligned with the axial bore of said body; and an elongate member movably extending through said axial passage and having an expander on itsA lower end disposed below said locking means, said expander engaging and holding said locking means expanded upon upward movement of said elongate member relative to said body.

22. A well device of the character set forth in claim 2l wherein: said elongate member and said elongate body provide a longitudinal flow passage through said well device.

23. A well device including: an elongate body having an upper non-expansible section and a lower section; said sections having communicating flow passages, said lower section having a lower outwardly expansible resilient locking portion, said upper section having an outwardly extending external flange adjacent the upper end thereof and integral therewith providing a downwardly facing stop shoulder which is adapted to engage an upwardly facing internal stop shoulder within the bore of a well string through which said body may be lowered to limit downward movement of said body; and an elongate member extending through and slidable longitudinally of said upper and lower sections and having a downwardly and outwardly extending annular shoulder adapted to enter into the lower end of said lower section to expand said resilient locking portion upon upward movement of said elongate member relative to said sections; said body and said elongate member having co-engageable stop shoulders for limiting upward movement of said elongate member relative to said body.

24. In a well apparatus: a nipple adapted to be incorporated in a string of tubing; a ow control device slidably disposed in the nipple; said ow control device including a tubular member; a head on the upper end of the tubular member engaged with the upper end of the nipple to limit downward movement of the ilow control device in the nipple; a plurality of resilient prongs carried by the lower end of the-tubular member, each of said prongs having a head thereon engaged with the lower end of the nipple when said'prongs are in relaxed position; a movable member extending longitudinally through thejow control'devic'e; and means carried by the lower y'endof theA movable member and engageable with the prongs to prevent the inward movement of the prongs.

25. In a well apparatus: a nipple adapted toy be incorporated in a stringrof tubing; a flow controlhdevice slidablydisposed in the nipple; said ow control device' infcluding 4a tubular member; a head on the upper'end of the tubular member engaged with lthe upper end of the nipple,'to limit` downward movement of the flow'control device inthe nippleja plurality of resilient prongs carried bythe tubular member, each of said prongs having a head thereon engaged with the lower vend of the nipple when said prongs are in relaxed position, to prevent upward movement of the ow control device in the nipple; a stem movably extending through the upper end of the ilow control device; a locking knot attached to the lower end of said stem and arranged to engage with the inner sides .of the heads on the prongs to prevent the inward movement of the prongs when the ow control device is disposed in the nipple.

26. In a well apparatus arranged to be connected in a string of tubing; a nipple; a ow directing device slidably disposed in the nipple;'a hollow head carried by the upper'endof the flow directing device, said head being -engaged with the upper end of the nipple and having a ow pa'ssagetherethrough; resilient locking means carried by the lower end of the ow directing device and engaged with the lower end of the nipple; a movable member extendinglongitudinally through the head and the flow directing device; and means carried by the lower end of Qthe. movable member engaged with the resilient locking meansv to prevent the inward movement of the resilient locking means.

' 27. Claim 26 wherein the resilient locking means are :flexible prongs, said prongs having heads thereon engaged with the lower end of the nipple and outside the nipple.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PAT CERTIFICATE OF Patent No, 2,859,825

Column`7, line 67, after "lowermo Signed and sealed (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Officer ENT OFFICE CORRECITION November ll 1958 Lowell M. Wilhoit ed specification appears in the print aid Letters correction and that the s this 3rd day oi March l959Bv ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

